Watch: The Story of South Philly Barbacoa’s Cristina Martinez

The story of an undocumented Mexican chef who runs one of the best new restaurants in America.

Cristina Martinez in the cart days | Photo by Emily Teel

Cristina Martinez in the cart days | Photo by Emily Teel

As part of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants coverage, the magazine produced a video on Cristina Martinez, the undocumented Mexican chef who runs the #6 restaurant on that list, South Philly Barbacoa. If you don’t know the story of Martinez and her husband Benjamin Miller it is a must-watch video.

And even if you do know the story, in this election year, it is a good reminder that immigration doesn’t just happen in a theoretical world, the struggles, successes and frustrations play out right here on the streets of Philadelphia and very often, in the kitchens of our favorite restaurants.


Follow South Philly Barbacoa on Facebook for upcoming #RightToWork events and other programming by Martinez and Miller.

South Philly Barbacoa [Foobooz]